Chinese-Thai vegans celebrate early Loy Krathong in Sattahip

Chinese-Thai residents of Sattahip brought the area’s annual vegetarian festival to a close with an early Loy Krathong ceremony to pray for blessing from nine Buddhist gods.

Mayor Narong Bunbancherdsri, who also is president of the Sawang Rojthummasathan Foundation, which sponsors the festival, led the Oct. 4 ceremony that saw revelers parade with their krathongs to the sea to release. They prayed for forgiveness, longevity and health and invited spirits to receive the floating flowers and incense.

Thais normally celebrate Loy Krathong at the end of November. This year the festival falls on Thursday, November 10.

Sattahip residents head towards water to loy their krathongs.

Narong said the festival is held each year to give vegetarians an opportunity to follow Buddhist precepts against consuming meat by sponsoring a festival offering free vegan meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

This article was published in the Pattaya Mail newspaper on Friday October 14, 2011 (Vol. XIX No. 41).